Press Archive

5 Minutes With Maker's Erin McPHerson

Once a modest platform for amateur videos, YouTube has become a massive star-making machine. (Google "PewDiePie" if you doubt that.) Making more stars is Erin McPherson's job. She drives programming strategy for LA-based Maker Studios,

CES News: MAKER TEAMS WITH DISH FOR SLING TV

Maker Exec Nikki Fancy Selected for 30 Under 30

Fancy started as an intern at Maker Studios and quickly rose to producer. Fancy helped found Maker's music department and start the series "Epic Rap Battles" with creators Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist. At the age of 23 she now helps drive all strategic progamming ventures for Maker which is now owned by Disney.

PewDiepie and Lindsey Stirling Make 30 under 30

Presenting today's greatest gathering of young game changers, movers and makers. Our fourth annual celebration is bigger than ever: 600 millennials in 20 fields — no repeats from years past and every one selected by a panel of A-list judges.

"Oh, You Pretty Things!" is so LA

Young aspiring artists and the growing pains of youth are hardly fresh territory for filmmakers. But Oh, You Pretty Things, the first dramatic scripted series from multi-channel YouTube network Maker Studios, in partnership with fashion/lifestyle brand Nylon, is worth a binge-watch marathon.

How Maker Works with Stars

Maker Studios Partners with MiTú

Maker Studios, the YouTube multichannel network owned by Disney, reached an exclusive deal with Latino-focused MCN MiTú to develop original and branded content aimed at the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market.

MiTú and Maker team to create Latino content

Latino digital network MiTú announced on Tuesday it will partner with Maker Studios to develop Latino branded entertainment content. Since its inception in 2012, MiTú, backed by The Chernin Group and other investors, has grown to 55 million global subscribers and more than 470 million monthly views across 1,300 partner channels.

Maker to Produce Programming With MiTú

The deal includes original and branded content. Maker Studios has signed an exclusive deal with Latino YouTube multichannel network MiTu to create original and branded content for Hispanic audiences, the companies announced Tuesday morning

MiTú and Maker Join Forces to Entertain Hispanic Millennials

MAKER NOW TOPS ALL NETWORKS IN U.S. VIEWERSHIP

The latest edition of Comscore‘s monthly online video report has arrived, and for the first time in years, VEVO has been unseated from the number one spot in the network rankings. Instead, it was Maker Studios that had the most unique US viewers in August, scoring more than 45 million of them in total.

MAKER TEAMS WITH 'AFV' FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY

“A relic of a bygone time.” “The uncoolest show on TV.” “Inexplicably never-ending, like a Cher farewell tour.” Critics and bloggers can beat it up all they want. If “America’s Funniest Home Videos” has proved anything over the decades, it is this: It will get the last laugh.

"Meet Me at The Reck" coming to Maker.tv

“Meet Me at the Reck” guests will include Jack Black, Zach Woods, Stampylonghead. Disney-owned Maker Studios, which creates online videos for millenials, announced the new Andrew W.K.-hosted kids series “Meet Me at the Reck, ” in which the “Party Hard” rocker and his friends will help kids explore their imaginations.

PewDiePie + CutiePieMarzia Attract Massive Awareness for Film

Hollywood's Big-Money Hit Factory

When Brian Robbins first told people he was going full time into the YouTube (GOOG) business, his colleagues in Hollywood were incredulous. “My agent, my lawyer, my dad—people thought I was crazy,” he says.

Maker partners with gamer Daniel Middleton

Maker Now Partnered With Top Three Gaming Channels

The Diamond Minecart is now partnered with Maker Studios. The Minecraft-focused YouTube channel of Englishman Daniel Middleton has signed with Disney-owned multi-channel network in a deal that brings another big gaming hub to Polaris.

Maker partners with Minecraft Guru The Diamond Minecart

Maker Studios has signed Daniel Middleton, known on YouTube as Minecraft-focused gaming star The Diamond Minecart. Middleton reaches more than 3.4 million subscribers, and since launching the channel two years ago has accumulated more than 1 billion video views on the site.

Lindsey Stirling Partners With Maker

Maker Studios has partnered with violinist Lindsey Stirling, whose top-rated YouTube channel boasts more than 5 million subscribers who have watched videos of her unique style of classical dubstep more than a half-billion times.

New Breed of Online Stars Rewrite the Rules of Fame

There is no doubt a new generation of talent who create their own content on YouTube, Vine, Instagram and other platforms are becoming household names among young consumers online. Parents may be oblivious to names like Cameron Dallas or Jennxpenn because those talents aren’t on Disney Channel or the radio, but they inspire screaming throngs reminiscent of Beatlemania when they make appearances in the flesh.

Maker recruits AOL’s Lewis and Yahoo’s Pan

Disney-owned Maker Studios has added former AOL Studios head Gabriel Lewis – who announced his departure on Friday – and Yahoo programming veteran Bonnie Pan to its Original Content programming division.

Maker Hires Former AOL, Yahoo Execs For Original Content

Maker Studios‘ presentation to advertisers at the 2014 Digital Content Newfronts made it clear that the multi-channel network is making a big investment in original content. At that event, Maker announced nine new original series, some centered around YouTube stars and other focused on traditional media creators.

Maker Snags AOL and Yahoo content Execs

The Disney-owned digital media firm has hired Gabriel Lewis and Bonnie Pan to its programming division, led by chief content officer Erin McPherson.
Maker Studios is making a significant bet on original content with two big digital media hires.

Maker to Make an Appearance at Comic-Con 2014

For the first time ever, Make Studios will make an official splash at Comic-Con, which will take place tomorrow through Sunday in San Diego. With The Nerd Machine’s Nerd HQ as its partner for the 2014 convention, Maker will be responsible for live performances, panels, and meet-and-greets with digital (and otherwise) celebs.

Hipsters love Q&As?

A conversation with Maker’s Julia Moonves: What’s cool about the web is that you don’t need a team of PR and development experts to help find a large audience for your work. Take for instance the Homeless Lottery Winner video by Rahat Hossain that went viral earlier this year and inspired viewers to donate thousands of dollars and help the man find housing.

Ynon Kreiz: Video Can Only Grow From Here

Maker Gen Creates Home for Rising Stars

It's time for Maker Studios to spread past its YouTube roots. The Disney-owned Web video network announced Maker Gen on Thursday, a way for aspiring online stars to grow their presence through a structured program.

Maker Launches Maker Gen and Maker Shop

The new consumer-facing initiatives join the company's growing list of products. Maker Studios announced on Thursday that it's adding two new consumer-facing brands to its ever-growing umbrella of products: Creator network Maker Gen and merchandise store Maker Shop.

Ynon Kreiz, Jeffrey Katzenberg Tout Future of Online Video

The YouTube platform is building the foundation for a strong future, according to some industry leaders who took to the stage Thursday at Vidcon, a conference for online video programming held at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Ynon Kreiz Keynotes at Vidcon 2014

The Maker Studios CEO told the VidCon audience that partnership talks evolved into the realization that the two media companies are "a very strong fit."
What does Maker Studios look like now that it's part of the Disney family? CEO Ynon Kreiz says it's still too early for many changes to manifest, but he gave the audience a VidCon a taste of how the YouTube multichannel network could leverage the media company's resources.

The 50 Best Quotes From Cannes Lions

With another festival almost over, Cannes Lions continues to capture the intersection of entertainment, business, culture and advertising. The festival has hosted an amazing range of speakers -- here are some of the standout quotes from this year.

Maker Studios and Ben Stiller talk ‘Next Time on Lonny’

Maker Studios, looking for content for its planned new video site Maker.tv, is turning to Ben Stiller for help.
In particular, Maker, now part of Walt Disney Co., has enlisted Mr. Stiller’s Red Hour Digital, a division of his production company, to help revive ”Next Time on Lonny,” one of the odder cult video series on the Web.

The Grill NYC: Maker and Pepsi talk the Future of Advertising

Season 2 of 'Next Time on Lonny' premieres

Sometimes the previews for the next episode spoil too much, sometimes they are spoiler-free, or, in the case of the Ben Stiller-produced Web series Next Time on Lonny, they include one with a bow-tie wearing dog that speaks Aramaic and foretells the impending apocalypse.

Maker, Nylon Celebrate "Oh, You Pretty Things!"

DIGITAL NEWFRONT NEWS: 5 Brands that Made Noise at NewFronts

Vevo, Maker Studios roll out programs. The third annual Digital Content NewFronts gala has come to a close, and the show that opened April 28 was a long and fairly dizzying affair. As Adweek noted on Saturday, the first week saw 7 media and tech brands generating a ton of buzz at the New York confab.

DIGITAL NEWFRONT NEWS: From the Backyard to Disney

Mega-popular YouTube channel Maker Studios recently sold to Disney for $500 million, but when the founders launched the company five years the goal was quite simple -- make videos and share audiences. "We just liked making videos. We didn't start it to sell to Disney someday; we were just a bunch of friends who liked hanging out," says Shay Carl, a co-founder, in this interview with Beet.TV featuring four of the Maker founders. We interviewed them at the Maker Studios NewFront last night.

DIGITAL NEWFRONT NEWS: Maker Ready to Build with Brands

Maker Studios, one of the biggest producers of programming on YouTube, is looking to cozy up to marketers that want to master Web video — even as the company looks to develop its own consumer brand. The Los Angeles, Calif.-based company, which Walt Disney Co. has agreed to acquire in a deal that could be worth $1 billion, is hosting its first ever NewFront event on Tuesday, less than a week after YouTube’s well-received presentation to the ad community.

DIGITAL NEWFRONT NEWS: Maker, Omnicom Sign Upfront Deal

Here's why one way Disney can begin to recoup the $950 million it plans to spend on YouTube network Maker Studios. Maker Studios has signed an upfront deal with Omnicom Media Group ahead of the network's Digital Content NewFronts presentation on Tuesday night in New York. The deal includes an ad spending commitment in the "low-eight figures," according to a person familiar with the matter.

Key & Peele present 'Ithamar Has Nothing to Say' With Maker

Two TV stars are deepening their ties to YouTube. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, best known for their combined work on Comedy Central sketch show Key and Peele, are two of the producers of Ithamar Has Nothing To Say, an upcoming comedy series they are working on with Maker Studios and Principato-Young Entertainment.

Maker partners with Comedy Central’s Key & Peele

Maker Studios is launching a new comedy with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele — both MadTV alums who have their own sketch show Comedy Central. The 6-part comedy series called Ithamar Has Nothing to Say is in pre-production and no launch date has been set as of yet.

Maker, Comedy Central's 'Key & Peele' Team

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele will produce the digital comedy series "Ithamar Has Nothing to Say." Comedy Central stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are expanding their reach with the Maker Studios digital series Ithamar Has Nothing to Say.

Growing 'The King' of YouTube stars

Erin McPherson Discusses Maker's Content Verticals

Erin McPherson's past career prepares her for the challenge.
So what does the chief content officer at Maker do? I oversee our studios, so the content we produce in-house, but also our programming strategy vis-à-vis partners, our network partners and our network talent, as well as outside third-party relationships. I work a lot on our brands and with the advertising community on strategic initiatives and branded programming.

Maker Partners With Video King Jukin Media

Maker Studios has partnered with Jukin Media to expose the company's vast library of viral videos to new viewers and more money. Maker, which is in the process of being acquired by Disney, operates one of the largest networks of online video networks in the world, one including channels for popular creators like PewDiePie and Epic Rap Battles of History.

No Fail Here: Maker Gets Powerful Partner in Jukin Media

Maker Studios just acquired a powerful new viral partner in Jukin Media, the video entertainment network that specializes in licensing and distribution of viral video clips – like last week’s train-kick-in-the-head selfie – on the fly.

Maker Nabs FailArmy

YouTube network Maker Studios is taking over management and monetization of a whole bunch of viral video channels that are managed by Jukin Media. The portfolio of content includes FailArmy‘s collection of fails, as well as 30 other viral video channels such as Bad Ads, The Come Up, and FunnyVideosArchive. Together, those channels get more than 400 million monthly views.

Maker Gets Into Blooper Business With Jukin Media

The two digital media firms will co-produce shows using Jukin's viral video clip library. Maker Studios is joining forces with viral video clip house Jukin Media to bring more bloopers to the Web. The companies announced Thursday that Maker will now collaborate with Jukin to manage and monetize its YouTube channels and videos. The Culver City media firm -- which recently sold to Disney -- will also develop and launch a website for Jukin's FailArmy brand.

Maker and Nylon TV team up for "Oh, You Pretty Things!"

Oh, You Pretty Things!, starring Francesca Eastwood, is a 10-episode series which follows a lifestyle blogger and her group of twentysomething trendsetters looking to make their big break in the underground music and fashion scene on LA’s Eastside. Sarah Dumont, Tui Asau, Alexander Nifong and Matthew Grathwol co-star. The show will premiere May 19 on Maker’s fashion and beauty channel The Platform.

Maker, Nylon To Launch Scripted Drama Series

The web series "Oh, You Pretty Things!" stars Francesca Eastwood as a lifestyle blogger trying to make it big in Los Angeles.Maker is making the jump to scripted dramas with the debut of web series Oh, You Pretty Things! in partnership with Nylon.

"Oh, You Pretty Things!" Coming in May

Maker at MIPTV: Democratization and Globalization

If you weren’t able to catch Maker Studios’ presentation at the inaugural MIP Digital Fronts, taking place during the annual MIPTV international content marketplace in Cannes, it could be condensed to two words: democratization and globalization.

Macy's and Maker Team Up for "The Next Style Star"

Macy's and Maker Studios, the world's largest producer and distributor of online video content for millennials, today announced a collaboration to launch an original fashion-lifestyle series--"The Next Style Star." This unique program will feature 16 up-and-coming stylists battling head-to-head for a $10,000 cash prize, a chance to serve as a guest stylist on an upcoming Macy's photo shoot, and have his or her winning look featured in the Impulse Department at Macy's Herald Square in New York City. Macy's "The Next Style Star" will debut April 3 on Maker's fashion and beauty network, The Platform, and macys.com/stylestar.

Macy's Co-Producing Reality Series With Maker

Here's one way Disney will try to recoup the $950 million it plans to spend buying YouTube network Maker Studios: with web series backed by deep-pocketed marketers.
One example arrives Thursday, when Maker will post the first episode of "The Next Style Star," an online reality series listing Macy's as a co-producer.

Macy's and Maker Star Search...

Macy’s and Maker Studios, a millennial-focused online video content producer, have announced a new fashion Web series called “The Next Style Star.” Sixteen aspiring stylists will create looks and face off for a $10,000 cash prize and a guest styling opportunity in a Macy’s photo shoot. The winning look will be featured in Macy’s Impulse department in New York.

Meet Top Maker YouTube Channels

YouTube thinks it can make a big play for TV ad budgets this year. Meanwhile, Walt Disney Company just spent $500 million on a company, Maker Studios, that from the outside seems to be just a collection of no-name YouTube channels.

Kat Graham Docu-Series Debuts on Maker Music

Kat Graham is known for showing her face onscreen -- she's predominantly an actress, after all, starring as Bonnie Bennett in the supernatural drama "The Vampire Diaries" on the CW. But she also has a solid music career, one that's been active for over a decade and includes a top five Billboard hit on the dance charts with "Put Your Graffiti On Me" in 2012.

Disney Acquires Maker

(Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co has agreed to buy Maker Studios for $500 million, becoming a major online video distributor through the purchase of one of YouTube's largest networks, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Maker teams up with Penny Arcade

Maker Studios is already partnered with some of the most prominent gamers on YouTube, and thanks to its most recent deal, it’s now partnered with the most prominent gaming webcomic, too. Maker’s gaming vertical, Polaris, has teamed up with Jerry Holkins‘ and Mike Krahulik‘s Penny Arcade.

SXSW ’14: Maker Says Monetization Will Catch Up

Shortly after he interviewed Ynon Kreiz, executive chairman for Maker Studios, this morning at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, Peter Kafka, senior editor for ReCode, broke the news that Disney is considering acquiring Maker for $500 million or more. Sadly, that story didn’t come up during the interview.

Maker stakes its claim on new frontier of Hollywood

History is repeating itself in Hollywood. A century after hardy entrepreneurs from the east coast moved to southern California to build the first movie studios, a new generation of digital companies has sprung up, building sound stages and producing content at a rapid pace....

Maker Partners with 'Jackass' Steve-O

Maker teams up with Steve-O

Maker Studios is getting in business with Steve-O of “Jackass” fame. The world’s largest provider of online video content for millennials will manage Steve-O’s YouTube channel and co-develop original programming consisting mainly of comedic pranks and stunt videos.

Will.i.am to Launch Video Platform With Maker

Will.i.am partners with Maker

Musician and entrepreneur will.i.am, frontman of the Black Eyed Peas, struck a deal with Maker Studios to create a video platform to promote himself and his projects on YouTube and elsewhere as well as develop programming around emerging talent he’s collaborating with.

Rechtman Joins Maker as President of International

René Rechtman Joins Maker To Lead International

Maker Studios has made a big hire to run its growing international business. The company announced that former AOL executive René Rechtman has joined as President of International and will oversee Maker’s international growth strategy and development of strategic partner relationships overseas.

Maker Empowers Performers

Maker Pacts With Just for Laughs

Maker struck a deal with Canadian comedy brand Just for Laughs to manage its hidden-camera pranks channel on YouTube, create a new YouTube channel for stand-up comedy and develop a dedicated video website.

Maker Partners With Just for Laughs

Maker Studios — the digital media company behind YouTube successes such as "Epic Rap Battles of History," Kassem G, the Shaytards and PewDiePie — is teaming up with Just for Laughs Group, best known for its long-running annual Montreal comedy festival.

Maker Forges Digital Partnership With ‘Just For Laughs’ Festival

The alliance gives Maker Studios the opportunity to turn Just For Laughs into a major Internet video franchise. The digital network company that targets millennials will manage the existing Just For Laughs Gags channel on YouTube.

Maker And Just for Laughs Team Up

Maker Inks New Deal For More Music Rights

Maker Studios is looking to legitimize the music in its creators’ videos and dodge any potential legal action that could come its way. The top multi-channel network recently inked a deal with Epidemic Sound that brings a library of royalty-free tracks to Maker partners.

Maker and Stiller's Red Hour team to produce 'Lonny' Season 2

Maker and Red Hour make comedy

Maker is continuing to make inroads into the Hollywood community. It’s latest traditional media partner is Ben Stiller‘s Red Hour Digital production studio. The two companies will team up for season two of Next Time On Lonny, a comedy web series that first ran for six episodes in 2011.

Maker Set To Launch 'Next Time On Lonny'

Maker Studios has pacted with Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films shingle to produce and distribute season 2 of YouTube comedy series “Next Time on Lonny.” Maker to debut second season of series spoofing reality TV in 2014.

Maker and Stiller give 'Lonny' a second season

Maker Studios is partnering with Red Hour Digital, the digital subsidiary of Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films, to produce the second season of an independently produced faux-reality web series called “Next Time on Lonny.”

MakerMade, Mike Tompkins And Chester See Reimagine 'Do-Re-Mi' For NBC

Digital music star Mike Tompkins has created a music video that reimagines the classic song "Do Re Mi," one of the iconic numbers that will be part of NBC's Dec. 5 (8-11 p.m. ET/PT) telecast of "The Sound of Music Live!"

'Divergent' Scribe Teams Up With Polaris

Evan Daugherty has written and directed four shorts for Maker Studios’ gaming and geek culture network Polaris, the company announced. Each short reimagines a character from Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros.

Polaris And 'Divergent' Scribe Reimagine Super Mario Bros.

Screenwriter Evan Daugherty has teamed up with Maker Studios’ Polaris to release “The Four Players,” a series of short films reimagining the characters from Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. franchise, the company announced Thursday.

Super Mario Series Heading To Polaris

The Four Players, a series of four short films written and directed by Daugherty, is being released on Polaris, Maker's gaming and geek culture YouTube hub. Each short centers on a reimagined version of a character from Nintendo's popular Super Mario Bros. universe.

Erin McPherson Leaving Yahoo For Maker

Erin McPherson, the Yahoo executive who has been in charge of the portal’s video efforts, is leaving the company. She’s going to Maker Studios, the giant YouTube network that’s trying to build a business outside of the world’s biggest video site.

Erin McPherson Tapped As Chief Content Officer

Erin McPherson, who led Yahoo's push into original video content over the past several years, is leaving the company to become chief content officer at Maker Studios, one of the leading content/ad networks in the YouTube space.

Maker Gains Chief Content Officer

Yahoo executive Erin McPherson is joining Maker Studios as the company’s chief content officer. In her new capacity, McPherson will be responsible for driving Maker’s content and programming strategy, reporting to Ynon Kreiz.

Maker Named B2B Company of the Year

Mike Tompkins Hits 1 Million Subs

If you’ve never seen a Mike Tompkins video, you should go ahead and change that right now. The immensely talented vocal artist, who is partnered with Maker Studios, has reached one million subscribers through the covers of pop songs he creates using only his mouth. We asked Mike a few questions about his YouTube success.

Polaris Recruits New Gaming Talent

A flurry of activity has significantly beefed up Maker Studios‘ most successful vertical. Four top YouTube gamers–Captain Sparklez, KSIOlajidebt, Ali-A, and TheBajanCanadian–have joined Maker and will be listed as members of Polaris, the network’s gaming division.

ERB Hits The NYTimes

On a recent evening, Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist, two breakout stars of the YouTube era, were trying, very seriously, to look like teenage girls from 2006: long hair, pink headbands, embroidered jeans.

Maker And Epidemic Sound Team Up

For the last several years, Swedish music company Epidemic Sound has been building a vast library of tracks for producers to use in soundtracks on television shows and online video, amassing 20,000 pieces from more than 100 composers.

Maker Introduces A New Tech Platform

Over the past several years,Maker Studios has turned its talent-focused media haven for YouTube stars into a huge business, attracting tens of thousands of channels to its network, which in turn have attracted hundreds of millions of subscribers and billions of views per month.

Maker Talks Growth

Multi-channel networks may not be doomed after all. Despite the endless reports of the demise of the MCN business model, Maker Studios appears to be building a viable online video business. The once creator-led company has weathered controversies with top talent and a founder suing the companyhe helped birth, but it appears to have turned a corner in the last six to 12 months and is demonstrating more and more staying power.

Ynon Kreiz Speaks At TheGrill Conference

When you’re looking for a model for growth in the burgeoning online industry, a lot can be gleaned from television. In fact, Maker Studios executive chairman Ynon Kreiz isn’t shy about comparing Maker to behemoths such as Viacom, which began as niche outlets.

MakerMade Launches

With its acquisition of Blip and its recent $26 million funding round in the books, Maker Studios has continued its rapid growth. The multi-channel network has launched Maker MADE, a service that offers the network’s resources to online video advertisers.

In-House Ad Agency Premiers, MakerMade

Flush with $26 million in new funding, Maker Studios is looking to up its monetization game. The startup, which manages YouTube stars like PewDiePie and Kassem G, is set to announce the launch of Maker Made, an in-house unit dedicated to helping brands succeed in Web video.

Why The Media Has Been Wrong About MCNs

For much of 2013 I watched the press write articles about how the YouTube “MCNs” (multi-channel networks) were doomed and tried to square that with the data I was watching at the one I invested in, Maker Studios, who has had one hell of a year.

Maker Aquires Blip

In a deal that could herald a wave of consolidation in the online video biz,YouTube multichannel network company Maker Studios on Friday officially announced the acquisition of digital media firm Blip.

Maker And Blip Team Up

Blip Platform To Stay Active Under Maker

Los Angeles-based Maker Studios officially confirmed the acquisition of Blip Networks Friday, which was first reported two weeks ago, saying that it wants to keep the video site alive. “Blip.com will continue to operate as a robust entertainment destination; and the industry-leading Blip sales team will be ramping up their sales game,” said Blip CEO Kelley Day in an email to Blip’s content producers. Day will step down from her CEO position, but remain an advisor to Maker.